Bilbo Baggins thought he was the least likely candidate to be fighting the most evil forces in the world. He was perfectly comfortable in his hobbit hole, drinking his tea and taking naps every few hours. Until, that is, Gandalf the Grey sends several unruly dwarves to wreck his home, destroy his peace, and devour all of his food. This is the start of the journey that ends up forcing Bilbo to embark on an adventure of a lifetime that will change the course of his life forever and make him into a legend in Middle Earth.

Middle Earth, a fantasy world created by J.R.R. Tolkien is inhabited by many people and creature groups, such as Dwarves, Elves, Wizards, Hobbits, Orcs, Men, Animals, Giants, Trolls, Dragons, and Talking Trees, to name a few. This story is primarily about the Dwarves and the Hobbits, with a couple of wizards thrown in to help and guide the other two groups. Many years before The Hobbit begins, a dragon had stolen the Dwarves’s gold and retreated into the Lonely Mountain to hoard the treasure until the original owners muster the courage to steal it back. The reason they enlist Bilbo to join them on their quest is because, unlike the dwarves, he is small, nimble, and quick, which are some necessary qualities for stealing something from a dragon. Because of this, Bilbo is given the nickname ‘Burglar’. Not necessarily something Bilbo is comfortable with.

This book touches on many universal themes, which may be one of the reasons why The Hobbit is so enduringly popular. Some of these themes include Good vs. Evil, the Power of Friendship, Courage in the face of danger, and Triumph over adversity.

If you’re someone who enjoys a good, challenging fantasy story, then this is a great book for you! In terms of age level, I would recommend this book to ages 12 and up. Also, there is a great movie that came out two years ago based on this book. Be sure to check it out!

“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.” -J.R.R. Tolkien